babysitter's club book cover
A graphic novel is a fancy term for comic book. The Babysitters Club graphic novel is based on the novel, of the same title, by Ann M. Martin.
There are four books in the graphic novel series. My favorite book in the series was Claudia and Mean Janine. This is the fourth and final book in the series. I am really quite fond of this book because it was the usual drama between the siblings, younger sister versus older sister—the classic competition. But I feel that this author found something, an event, that pulled the sisters together. Not just the family bonds, or the sudden realization that you should really care about your sibling. The book actually shows how families can change the way they think of each other because of one-life changing event.
The funniest problem/solution that the babysitters club (B.S.C.) had to face was when Jenny, a little girl in the B.S.C. playgroup, would not put on a smock to do crafts. Another girl, Karen, who liked to tell stories to the other children (ones that may have been a bit exaggerated), told Jenny that her little brother Andrew, who was awfully shy, that Andrew was going to become a monster, because of a curse placed on him by the next door neighbor. I love funny moments, the author really made a connection to the reader by reminding us of all the stories little kids make up, the funny and scary ones.
When Claudia (vice president of the B.S.C.) learns something valuable from Jamie, one of the children, it really warms my heart. Little children often are underestimated, but they have pretty big brains and hearts inside their bodies. We could really learn a lot from little kids. Back on track, Jamie’s new baby sister, Lucy, is getting lots of presents and attention, and then there was a party for Lucy’s christening. Jamie is jealous, and almost does something he would have regretted for a very long time. Jamie stopped because he loved his sister, and the words stuck with Claudia for a long time: “I love her. She IS my sister.” When little kids teach you a lesson, it’s pretty hard to forget.
Raina Telgemeier has written quite a few graphic novels, including Smile, Sisters, Ghosts, Fantasmas, and Drama. I own Drama and hope to read it soon.
I don’t normally read graphic novels but chose to read one now because it’s the beginning of summer: you want to relax, no tests, no teachers, just you and your pajamas. Don’t get me wrong, I love reading, really I do, but sometimes I would like something easier and below grade level, so I had my four book summer beach read. Graphic novels give you the time to relax, and I never thought, “How many more pages?” The illustrations are beautiful, and onomatopoeias (look it up if you don’t know this word) were written in the pictures, which really gives graphic novels their own special touch.
I would recommend this book to children around six to 12. This book does not have difficult vocabulary, but there is definitely a lesson to learn in all of these books. Younger readers can read this just for fun, and for 10 years and older, your comprehension gets thicker, so you can understand the lesson The Babysitters Club has to teach you.